A union that sought to represent Starbucks Corp. baristas at three Manhattancoffeehouses says it will ramp up its organizing efforts now that thecompany has settled an unfair labor practice complaint.

A branch of the Industrial Workers of the World that calls itself IWWStarbucks Workers Union characterized Tuesday's settlement as a victory forunion organizing. Among other things, it requires Starbucks to post noticesat the three stores named in the complaint stating that employees have theright to join a union.

"This settlement creates the organizing space we need to continue thealready positive membership growth we have in the Starbucks union," DanielGross, a Starbucks barista and IWW organizer, said Wednesday in a phoneinterview from New York City.

Starbucks admitted no wrongdoing in its settlement with the National LaborRelations Board, but agreed to offer two workers their jobs back and to givethree employees back pay totaling less than $2,000.

The union argued that Starbucks violated federal law by creating a nationalpolicy prohibiting workers from sharing written union information or wearingunion buttons.

In a company statement e-mailed Wednesday by spokesman Alan Hilowitz,Starbucks said: "While Starbucks respects the free choice of our partnersand remains committed to complying fully with all laws governing the rightto organize collectively, we also believe firmly that our progressive,positive work environment, coupled with our outstanding compensation andbenefits, make unions unnecessary at Starbucks."

The company contends there are no unionized Starbucks stores in the UnitedStates, but Gross says the IWW represents "a modest-sized group" ofdues-paying members who have collectively bargained for certain jobimprovements, including pay raises.

Gross refused to say precisely how many Starbucks employees belong to theunion, but said it is making progress toward organizing more workers in NewYork City and beyond.